Beautiful Day in LA....

What an amazing day….  I was picked up by my friends Larry & Carol Faragher who are in the Los Angeles area visiting for a couple of months.  We heading down the coast to explore a little bit of California today.  First we headed to Newport Beach where we go hung up for a while if a “Walk for the Cure” major detour.  We finally made our way to Newport beach and the pier.  It was a lot of fun walking the beach and checking out all the surfers.  We spent a couple of hours there and headed to Balboa Island.  We took the ferry over and then walked around the island.  Then it was back over the ferry and on our way toward Laguna Beach.  We eventually stopped for lunch and relaxed a bit.  Our final stop was the Mission San Juan Capistrano.  What a great stop!!!  The historical ruins were great and so were all the beautiful flowers.  I felt right back at home again after a long layover….  Here I was exploring, snapping way too many photos and even capturing a lot of lovely flowers along the way….  Feels like I am certainly ready for the ms Amsterdam and the adventures ahead.  I am so ready for the Grand Pacific & Far East Voyage to begin tomorrow….  I am particularly excited to be reunited with my cruise family….  What a great day!!

 

The beginning of the adventure...

Here I sit at 35,000 ft., winging my way west to the city of Los Angeles.  Have I ever mentioned how much I hate long flights?  Anyway I digress..... It feels so good to start my adventure.  It is pretty exciting to think that I will be reunited with my Holland America family, once again, aboard the ms Amsterdam on Monday.  It's just the process of getting there that I hate.  Once I am aboard and unpack I will sit back, relax and be filled with excitement.  If I could just get past this hatred of flying......

Getting close....

Well, after what seems like an eternal waiting period, my next voyage is one week away.  Yes, a week from today I will be on the ms Amsterdam, my home away from home.  Once I get past lifeboat drill and finish unpacking, I will relax and enjoy the days at sea as we sail to the Hawaiian Islands.  I'm not too excited yet, that never happens until I am aboard.  I still have a very long flight to LAX to get past.  I hate flying..... For the rest of the week it will be finishing up on last minute details and buttoning up the house.  I am so ready to hit the high seas again!

Loving the summer....

Just thought I would do a post because I enjoyed using my new camera on my way from Rehoboth Beach Delaware to Ocean City New Jersey via the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.  Having some great beach days and enjoying time with family and friends....